
Health & Science
Houston hospitals are seeing a COVID-19 uptick fueled by the omicron variant
Posted on · Houston Methodist has seen four times as many positive tests this week, and Memorial Hermann has noted more hospitalizations.
Posted on · Houston Methodist has seen four times as many positive tests this week, and Memorial Hermann has noted more hospitalizations.
Posted on · As the holiday's approach, Dr. Bradley Lembcke, the chief medical officer at St. Luke's Health, gives advice on how to measure risks amid the pandemic.
Posted on · Methodist researchers identified the cases through its genome sequencing surveillance project.
Posted on · The vaccine would only be used in India at first before researchers look to get approval for other countries with low vaccination rates. They hope that means fewer variants in the future.
Posted on · Health officials say the circumstances around how the variant was identified make it likely it's already prevalent in the community.
Posted on · State health officials say they've anticipated the variant's arrival since it was first identified last month.
Posted on · Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo confirmed the news on Monday. It’s the first case in Texas.
Posted on · President Biden’s chief medical adviser told CNN’s “State of the Union” scientists need more information before drawing conclusions about omicron’s severity. But reports from South Africa, where it emerged and is becoming the dominant strain, suggest hospitalization rates have not increased alarmingly.
Posted on · Gene Godbold, a scientist with Austin-based contractor Signature Science who has compiled a list of omicron’s mutations, spoke with Houston Public Media about what the research says about the new variant.
Posted on · Public health experts warn that the rush to impose travel bans on southern African countries after the omicron variant was identified can work against scientific transparency.
Posted on · The White House says no disruptions to government operations are expected from the mandate, which President Biden issued in September. Federal contractors have a January deadline.
Posted on · After declining most of the fall, new infections are up again in more than half of U.S. states, worrying experts about what the holiday season may bring.
Posted on · The Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce later this week that it is authorizing boosters for people 18 or older, even if they aren't at risk for severe disease.
Posted on · Companies with at least 100 employees must ensure their workers get a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing. Some 17 million health care workers face a vaccine mandate, with no testing option.
Posted on · Hidalgo last raised the COVID threat level in August, when the more transmissible delta variant caused a fourth wave of the pandemic across Texas. The county previously hit its highest threat level in June 2020, which lasted until May.